2023 Project Awards

BEST OVERALL DESIGN-BUILD PROJECT OF THE YEAR

& 

AVIATION

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Project of the Year

Tampa International Airport, Blue Express Curbside
Tampa, FL

Hillsborough County Aviation Authority

Tampa International Airport continues its legacy of innovative design with the first-of-its-kind Blue Express Curbsides. They allow passengers without checked bags to bypass ticketing and baggage claim on their way to and from gates. Design-build teaming facilitated safe delivery of the project while ensuring seamless operations at one of America’s top-rated airports. The trick was to build eight lanes, a vertical circulation building and a utility plant between a parking garage and the terminal. Team members described it as like building a ship in a bottle." Even in the midst of construction, the airport received recognition for outstanding customer service.

TRANSPORTATION - ROADWAYS

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Project of the Year

Ringling Trail Design-Build Project
Sarasota, FL 

Ajax Paving / Burgess & Niple

Design-Builder/General Contractor:

Ajax Paving Industries of Florida, LLC

Owner:

City of Sarasota

Engineer: 

Burgess & Niple, Inc.

Landscape Architect:

David W. Johnston Associates, Inc.

Utility Coordination / Survey:

ELEMENT Engineering Group, LLC

The Ringling Trail Design-Build Project transformed Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota into a complete street by enhancing bicycle safety and expanding multi-modal connectivity between the Legacy Trail, downtown Sarasota, and the Sarasota Bayfront. The Ringling Trail project extends one mile between Lime and Pineapple avenues and features protected lanes for a safer road experience for recreational cyclists and commuters and ADA ramp upgrades throughout for pedestrians. This is the first protected bike lane project in the Sarasota-Manatee region, coupled with lane repurposing and the addition of landscaping and signal timing improvements benefiting traffic management.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Project of the Year

University of Florida (UF) Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) Special Collections Building
Gainesville, FL

The Haskell Company

Design-Builder/General Contractor:

The Haskell Company

Owner:

University of Florida

Architect: 

Haskell

Engineers:

Haskell

Specialty Consultants/Contractors:

CCS Mechanical

FLMNH, in its 100-year history at the University of Florida, has amassed a collection of over 40 million specimens. A new building was needed to address the challenges with its current facilities while ensuring FLMNH maintains its premier status.

The new UF FLMNH Special Collections Building is a 23,500 SF, state-of-the-art, two-story building with attached laboratory spaces, including flammable liquid storage warehouse (for alcohol-based wet collections) and conventional high rack storage areas. The new facility has a receiving area for the specimens and collections as well as offices for staff and labs designed for collaboration.

The facility also has strict temperature and humidity-control requirements in the collections. Other special needs include flammable hazards addressed by ventilation, detection and containment. Special design and code compliance strategies were included to address the unique hazards associated with the wet collection.

REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, RESTORATION

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Project of the Year

Fleet Readiness Center Hangar 101 Repairs
Jacksonville, FL 

The Haskell Company

Design-Builder:

The Haskell Company

Owner:  

NAVFAC SE

Architect:

The Haskell Company

Engineer: 

The Haskell Company

Specialty Subcontractors:

Owner Best Tec (Environmental)                      

The Fleet Readiness Center Hangar 101 project at Naval
Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville included the design and renovation of an 89,000-square-foot hangar and it’s five attached mezzanines. This 1940s era building was occupied by several hundred civil-service craftsmen and women who disassemble, repair, upgrade, restore and return each aircraft to 100% combat-ready condition. Renovation focused on remediating hazardous materials, upgrading the building envelope, installing new electrical and mechanical systems and equipment, renovating office mezzanines, refurbishing the hangar doors, repairing the hangar floor and repainting the facility. Haskell upgraded the occupied hangar without compromising the fleet’s readiness mission.

WATER/WASTEWATER

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Project of the Year

South County Potable Water In-Line Booster Pump Station
Ruskin, FL 

Westra Construction

Design-Builder:

Westra Construction Corp.

Owner:

Hillsborough County, FL 

Engineer:

Ardurra Group, Inc.

Architect:

Harry Howard & Associates

Specialty Design Subconsultants:

Electrical Design Associates (Electrical & Instrumentation)
Carastro & Associates (now BSA) (HVAC & Plumbing)

Specialty Subcontractors

Sandhoff Construction Co., Inc. (Structural)
BL Smith Electric, Inc. (Electrical)
Rocha Controls, Inc. (Instrumentation)
Mersino Dewatering, Inc. (Bypass System)

The South County Potable Water In-Line Booster Pump Staon – Hillsborough County’s first Progressive Design-Build project – was constructed to improve pressures of up to 50 million gallons per day of potable water in the County’s rapidly growing southern area. The completed project included approximately 1,300 LF of 42 water main, a 12,000 SF concrete building structure housing two 1,250 HP booster pumps, overhead crane, and associated electrical, control, and security systems. A temporary, diesel six-pump bypass booster pump system was also constructed on a nearby site to provide pressure increases to the water system prior to compleon of the permanent facility.

HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Honor Award

Kernan Medical Office Building
Jacksonville, FL 

Dana B. Kenyon Company

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

Dana B. Kenyon Company

Owners: 

Jax Spine & Pain Centers and UF Health

Architect:

Gresham Smith

Engineer:

England, Thims & Miller

Owner Advisor:

ALM Surgical Solutions

The Kernan Medical Office Building project is a new muti-specialty surgery center for Jax Spine & Pain Centers and UF Health. The largest free-standing multispecialty surgery center in the region, the three-story, 54,000-square-foot medical facility includes an ambulatory surgery center, pain management procedure rooms and an MRI suite on the first floor. The 2nd and 3rd floor house a lab, medical offices, staff spaces, and a radiology suite.

REHABILITATION, RENOVATION, RESTORATION

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Honor Award

Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
Fort Lauderdale, FL 

Hensel Phelps

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

Hensel Phelps

Owner: 

City of Fort Lauderdale

Engineers: 

WSP (Mechanical, Electrical, Structural)
Keith & Associates (Civil)
Langan Engineering (Geotechnical)

Architect: 

Justin Architects

Specialty Subcontractors: 

Weller Pools
GTE Precast

Specialty Subconsultant: 

Counsilman-Hunsaker

In August 2018, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission awarded Hensel Phelps with a $44 Million design-build contract for the renovation of
the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center (FLAC). The renovations included demolishing and constructing all new swimming pools that are FINA- compliant and meet international swimming and diving competition standards. This state-of-the-art landmark is home to the world’s second (the United States’ first) 27-Meter permanent dive tower and includes a spa, a new grandstand building, and bleachers with spectator restrooms, concessions, and a ticket office. The south building has a timing, locker, and weight room.

SMALL PROJECT

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Honor Award

Lift Station 87 Wet Weather Flow Transfer
St. Petersburg, FL 

Archer Western Construction, LLC
Wade Trim

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

Archer Western

Owner: 

City of St. Petersburg

Engineer: 

Wade Trim

Consultants: 

Dialogue PR (Public Relations)
Birkitt Environmental (Environmental)
Areha Engineering (Geotechnical)

The project included a new, unmanned lift station, replacement of aging utility access holes and 460 feet of degrading sanitary sewer pipe, to balance wet weather flows between the Southwest and Northwest Sanitary Service areas. The City of St. Petersburg chose the Progressive Design-Build (PDB) delivery model to meet a demanding 13-month schedule. We applied Design-Build principles to complete the project on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of the Owner and community stakeholders. The final design and construction addressed flexibility, capacity challenges, odor/noise concerns, reduced impacts to the traveling public, and improved the neighborhood appearance with artwork and landscaping.

TRANSPORTATION STRUCTURES

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Honor Award

Wekiva Parkway Section 6
Seminole County FL

SUPERIOR/WGI Team

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

Superior Construction

Owner: 

Florida Department of Transportation

Owner Advisor: 

RS&H

Engineers: 

WGI
Arcadis
WSP USA Environmental & Infrastructure Inc. 
COWI 

Key Specialty Subcontractor: 

Ranger Construction Industries

The Wekiva Parkway Section 6 project extended a beltway that increases capacity between Florida’s Lake and Seminole Counties, diverting traffic from the congested I-4 corridor. Its benefits to the community and environment cannot be overstated. Crossing a federally-designated Wild and Scenic River, the design-build team prioritized minimizing impacts on the Wekiva River Basin resources, maintaining wildlife habitat connectivity, and reducing vehicle-wildlife conflicts. Its most visible aspect is the Wekiva River Crossing — three segmental bridges (370,172 sf of bridge deck) that carry the Wekiva Parkway (SR 429) and a service road/shared-use path over the Wekiva River.

WATER/WASTEWATER

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Honor Award

South County Potable Water In-Line Booster Pump Station
Hillsborough County FL

Westra Construction

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

Westra Construction Corp.

Owner: 

Hillsborough County FL

Engineer: 

Ardurra Group, Inc.

Specialty Subconsultants: 

Harry Howard & Associates (Architect)
Electrical Design Associates (Electrical & Instrumentation)
Carastro & Associates (now BSA) (HVAC & Plumbing)

Specialty Subcontractors: 

Sandhoff Construction Co, Inc. (Structural)
BL Smith Electric, Inc. (Electrical)
Rocha Controls, Inc. (Instrumentation)
Mersino Dewatering, Inc. (Bypass Systems)

Photo Credit: Westra Construction

The South County Potable Water In-Line Booster Pump Staon – Hillsborough County’s first Progressive Design-Build project – was constructed to improve pressures of up to 50 million gallons per day of potable water in the County’s rapidly growing southern area. The completed project included approximately 1,300 LF of 42 water main, a 12,000 SF concrete building structure housing two 1,250 HP booster pumps, overhead crane, and associated electrical, control, and security systems. A temporary, diesel six-pump bypass booster pump system was also constructed on a nearby site to provide pressure increases to the water system prior to compleon of the permanent facility.

INDUSTRIAL/PROCESS/RESEARCH FACILITIES

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Honor Award

Tampa Bay Water Desalination Facility Intake Connection Improvements Phase I
Apollo Beach, FL

Design-Build Team of Wharton-Smith, Ardurra Group, and Wekiva Engineering

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

Wharton-Smith, Inc.

Owner: 

Tampa Bay Water

Engineer: 

Ardurra Group, Inc.
Wekiva Engineering LLC

Specialty Subconsultants: 

Ardaman & Associate, Inc.
Dive-Tech International, Inc.
Mid-State Dewatering, Inc

Specialty Subcontractors: 

Ramos Engineering and Associates
Speeler & Associates, Inc.

Owner Advisor: 

Greeley and Hansen

The project provides a new seawater intake for Tampa Bay Water Desalination Plant, co-located Northeast of the Tampa Electric Big Bend Power Station. The intake is connected to power station’s Tunnel No. 1 to capture seawater for producing potable water.

FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Merit Award

South Florida Water Management District Homestead Field Station Building Replacements
Homestead, FL

State Contracting & Engineering Corp., Carty Architecture, and South Florida Water Management District

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

State Contracting & Engineering Corp.

Owner: 

South Florida Water Management District

Architects: 

Carty Architecture
Curtis + Rogers Design Studio, Inc. (Landscape)

Engineers: 

Hammond & Associates (MEP)
Chen Moore & Associates (Civil)
Botas Engineering (Structural)

Specialty Subcontractors: 

Coltec Enginering, Inc. (Mechanical)
Kendall Electric, Inc. (Electrical)
AEC Services, Inc. (Fueling)
Jobbers Equipment Warehouse (Equipment)

The South Florida Water Management District is responsible for managing and protecting the water resources of South Florida, and the Homestead Field Station is an integral part of the District’s efforts in Southern Miami-Dade County. The Homestead Field Station project features a new office building, maintenance/storage building, and fueling station to effectively meet the current and future needs of the District. The office facility accommodates 26 employees, and the maintenance building has six maintenance bays with equipment for the repair and maintenance of the District’s largest vehicles. The design and construction emphasized function and efficiency without sacrificing aesthetics.

FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL

DBIA Florida Region Design-Build Merit Award

St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Apopka Service Center
Apopka, FL

Collage Design and Construction Group, Inc. d/b/a The Collage Companies

Design-Builder/General Contractor: 

The Collage Companies

Owner: 

St. Johns River Water Management District

Engineers: 

TLC Engineering Solutions
Wood PLC

Architect: 

Straughn Trout Architects

Key Specialty Subconsultants and Subcontractors

Tanderen Company, LLC
Southern Fire Protection
Platinum Drywall
Local Electrical Service
Ron Kendall Masonry
CT Mechanical
Armitage Plumbing
Commercial Paint Services
Craftwork Inc.
United Steel Works
Taylor Cotton Ridley

St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) is one of five Florida water management districts that is responsible for managing groundwater and surface water resources in Florida. The SJRWMD covers an 18-county region in northwest and east- central Florida, from Jacksonville to the Blue Cypress Lake Conservation area. Due to the vast size of the district, it was necessary to build an operations service center in Apopka, Florida. Collage entered into a Design-Build contract in April of 2020, for the construction of a Florida Green Building Certified,17,000 SF multi-use and office, training facility for the St. Johns River.